[Isolation and separation of nucleic acids from Streptomyces hydrogenans (author's transl)]

Different methods for homogenization of cells of Streptomyces hydrogenans, for extraction of nucleic acids and for fractionation of the RNA and DNA obtained were critically examined. The only way to prepare high molecular weight rapidly labelled RNA and polysomes was to grind freeze-dried cells together with kieselguhr with a mortar and pestle. The best results for extraction of nucleic acids from the cell homogenate were obtained in the presence of diethyl pyrocarbonate (diethyl oxydiformate), yielding nucleic acids of considerable purity in a minimal amount of time. The best resolution of extracted nucleic acids was achieved by electrophoresis in 2% agarose acrylamide gels. This technique proved that during the cell homogenization and extraction procedure the bulk of nucliec acids was not degraded to low molecular weight material. An improved device for the registration of the profile of the absorption after gel electrophoresis is described.